Record 315m iPlayer requests in January

The BBC’s iPlayer service has recorded its biggest month to date after receiving 315 million TV and radio programme requests in January.

It is the first time the catch-up service has passed the 300 million barrier and is a 16 per cent increase on March 2013’s record 272 million requests. January also saw a record average of 10.2 million daily requests, up from 9.3 million in February 2013.

The latest series of BBC drama series Sherlock helped boost figures prompted 3.6 million requests. That and the other two instalments of the detective drama were the most requested TV episodes of the month. Returning series The Voice UK and Waterloo Road also performed well, as did new dramas The Musketeers and The 7.39.

It is thought new devices in homes after Christmas helped contribute to the overall increase in programme requests.

Mobiles and tablets accounted for 40 per cent of requests – 127 million overall, and another record high.

Figures are recorded from programme requests via the iPlayer through any BBC website but do not include requests via Virgin Media and Sky.